Spring wheel construction



Oct. 28, 1952 H. KIRWIN SPRING WHEEL CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 30, 1948 Inven for Henry Kirwin By -his Attor'n e Oct. 28, 1952 H. KIRWIN SPRING WHEEL CONSTRUCTION 2 SI-lEETS-Si-IEET 2 Filed Oct. 50, 1948 Kiri/lid? HWMVVVVVW Q6 i V 6 7 7 Inventor Y Henry Ki'r'win By his Attorney out danger of stretching orstrainin it.-

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE 1 U v v v I, :f- 7

SPRING WHEEL CONSTRUCTION 7 Henry Dedham, Mass.

Application October e0, 1948, Serial No. 57,537-

vide an improved wheel construction in which.

a rim which is constructed as a unit separate from its hubis so mounted relatively to the hub that it will yield radially under the application of external pressure. Such a construction an--v plied to automobile wheels enables the wheel itself to absorb many road shocks. Applied to a pulley, the illustrated construction-is adapted to maintain a continuous tension on the belt with- With the above and other objects inqview the present invention, in one aspect thereof, consists in the combination with a rim and ahub which are distinct and separate from each other of a resilient element or elements normally maintaining coincidence of the respective axes of said rim,

and hub and characterized by an attaching, means comprising a clip formed therein. and extending inwardly therefrom for engagement with a. clip receiver which is rigid with the hub, .the'clip and the clip receiver being maintained in mutual registration by two members extending outwardly from the hub and arranged in contiguous. relation to opposite edges of the clip and to opposite sides of the clip receiver.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a clip assembly similar to that described above for attaching a resilient element to a rim. In the illustrated organization an endless resilient element has formed therein clips extending alternately inwardly and outwardly for attach ment to the hub and the rim, respectively.

In accordance with a further feature of the.

invention a resilient element connecting the rim and the hub is mounted. in a closed chamber which includes two members'extending inwardly from the rim and forming side walls of the chamber and forming also means for maintaining proper registration of the outwardly extending clips and their clip receivers. Similar members extending outwardly. from'the hub form the inner portions of the side walls of the closed chamber.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means, herein illustrated as keys, for holding fviolai s'. (Chm-15) the clips in engagement with the clip receivers by preventing contraction of the clips. In the illustrated organization the keys are held in proper registration with the clips and the clip receivers by the clip-engagin members above referred to.

In order to prevent excessive stress or strain on the resilient element suitable means is provided for positively limiting the relative radial movement of the rim and the hub.

These and other. features of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of aV-belt pulley incorporating the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line IIII of Fig- 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line III--III of Fig. 1;

\ automobile, wheel incorporating comprises a hub I0 having mounted therein an endless sprin l2 which mounts a rim l4. The

spring I2 is so constructed and arranged that the rim and the hub are normally in concentric relation to each other as shown in Fig. 1. When tension is applied to a V-belt I6 carried by the rim M the rim and the hub assume an eccentric relation to each other as shown in-Fig. 4. In this position the tension of the v-lbelt in the direction of the arrow in Fig- 4 is balanced by the force of the spring [2 in the opposite direction.

The spring may be mounted in the hub and the rim in any suitable manner but I prefer to provide the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the spring is shaped to provide six clips extending alternately inwardly and outwardly from the spring, the inwardly extending clips being identified by the numeral I8 and the outwardly extending clips by the numeral 20. Each clip [8 is arcuate in shape as seen in Fig. l and comprises about three'quarters of a complete circle. ..For mounting each clip l8 in the hub l said hub has three extensions 22 uniformly spaced from each other and provided respectively with recesses complemental in shape to the clips I 8. For retaining the clips against lateral displacement from the recesses in the extensions of hub l0 two plates 24 (Fig. 2) are secured by flat headed screws 26 to the hub I0. Each plate has extensions 28 uniformly spaced from each other and arranged to register with the clips, l8 as shown in Fig. 1. In order to prevent the clips [8 from bein contracted and withdrawn from the recesses under the stresses incidental to normal operation of the pulley cylindrical keys 29 are inserted into theclips- 18 to hold them against contraction. Similar keys 3]. are inserted into the clips 20.

For mounting the outwardly extending; clips .2-10 1 in the rim l4, said rim has inward extensions 30 uniformly spaced from each other and provided respectively with recesses complemental in shape to the clips 20. It willibe seen in Fig. 1 thatthe inward extensions-30- are centrally spaced be.--

tween the outward extensions 22 of the hub. For retaining the clips 20 against lateral displace-- ment from the recesses in the inward extensions of the rim two annular plates 32 are secured by flat headed screws 34 to the rim l4. Each plate has inward extensions 36 uniformly spaced from each other and arranged to register with the clips 20, as shown in Fig; 1. In order to insure that the assemblywill run true at all times the extensions 36 are arranged to project radially inwardly to a point where their end portions err-- gage a substantial width of the plates 24 on the hub H). In order to limit relative movement of the rim and the hub radially, the extensions 36 are provided with arcuate shoulders 38 (Fig; 3) constructed and arranged to engage the edge faces of the plates 24. In-order thatthe spring l2 will be long enough to permit relative move-- ment of the rim and the hub within the limits defined by the space between the shoulders 38; and the edge faces of-theplates 24 the sections of the springs between the clipsare in the form of an are havin a radius of curvature substantially less than the distance from the center of each such section to thecommon axis of the rim and the hub. In Figs. 1 and-'4. said arcuate sectionsare indicated by the numerals 40' and 44'. When the pulley is in its position shown inFig. 4' with therim in eccentric relation to the hub the sections 40 of the spring I 2 are stressed by shortening-the axes of theirrespective curvatures and the sections 42 are stressed by lengthening the axes of their curvatures. It will be understood that in the course of rotation of the illustrated pulley each section of the spring is continually flexing between its state of curvature indicated by the numeral 40 and its state of-curvature indicated by-the numeral 4i. The gage and temper of the spring is such that it will not-fracture under normal service conditions; While the illustrated sprin is a. single thickness'of resil ient metal it is tobe understood that a laminated structure may beprovided, if desired.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there is illustrated anautomobile wheel incorporating thefeatures of the present invention. In general the constructionof the hub, the-rim and the spring shown in Fig; r and their arrangement relatively to each other are similar to the construction and arrangement above described with reference to Fig. 1'. The differences which exist 1 between, the structureshown in Fig. 1 and the structure shown .inFig. 5 are mainly such as arerc iredbyrthe'idifierence in funtion between the two rotors. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7 the illustrated hub is characterized by outwardly extending spaced annular plates 44 and 45 between which are positioned spaced annular plates 46 and 41 extending inwardly from the rim. The plates 46 and 41 are in sliding engagement with the plates 44 and 45 and suitable sealing rings 48 and 50 may be. provided between the plates if desired.. The plates serve as side walls of anenclo'sure in which ismounted a spring 52 (Fig. 5') similar to the spring l2 shown in Fig. 1. A flange 62 of the plate 45 serves as the inner wall of the enclosure and a similar flange 64 of the plate 41 serves as the outer .wallQf the enclosure. The flange 62 is secured by screws 66 to the plate 44 and the flange 64- issecured toIthe-.:plate 46 by screws 68. In-

wardly extending clips 54 of the spring 52 are mounted in complementally shaped recesses formed in outward extensions 56 of the hub and are secured therein by cylindrical keys 30. Outwardlyextending clips 58 are'seatedin arcuat'e members 60 secured to'the plate 41' and are secured by"cylindrical keys Relative radial" movement of the rim'and the hub is limited bya shoulder 10 (Fig. 6) formed in the plate 45 and arranged to be engaged by the edge face of the plate-47'.

The illustrated automobile wheel may be mounted on its axle in any known manner. As"

illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the plate; 44 has a circular opening-defining the-center of the wheel and registering with a plate 12 which turns with the axle 14, the inner margin of the plate 44 being secured by screws-'16to a flange 18' of the plate =72;

While I prefer to provide an endl'ess spring between the rim and the hub of my improved rotor, itis within the scope'of' my invention to provide-a plurality of springs, if desired. In

the illustrated construction there would be a clip formed in said element'and extending,

inwardly-therefrom, a clip receiver rigidwith the hub and arranged to mount the inwardly extending clip, and two-members extending outs wardly' from the hub and'arranged in contigue ous relation to opposite edgesof the clip andlto. opposite sides of the clip-receiver. T

2 The combination with a rim and a; hub of a. resilient element connecting the rim and the hub;

a clip :formed' in said element and extending. in;- wardly therefrom, a" hub and arranged to ing'clip; clip and mount the inwardly extend.-

constructedand arranged to prevent contraction of the clip 'f rom'the clip receiver, .and.

edges of the" clip, to, opposite -sides of the clip receiver'and" to opposite ends of the key.

3. The combination with a rim and a 'hub'of; anendless resilient element 0 and the hub; a clip formed in v saidelement and. extending outwardly therefro m, a clip receiver projecting inwardlyfrom the rim andconstructed the: outwardly extending.

and arranged to-mount clip;.and two .armsextendinginwardIy from the.

clipreceiver rigid with I the.

akey mountedin: and retainedlby the.

two members extending butwardly from the. hub. and arranged in contiguous'relation to opposite onnecting the rim rim and arranged in contiguous relation to opposite edges of the clip, to opposite sides of the clip receiver, and to opposite sides of the hub.

4. The combination with a rim and a hub of an endless resilient element connecting the rim and the hub, a clip formed in said element and extending outwardly therefrom, a clip receiver projecting inwardly from the rim and constructed and arranged to mount the outwardly extending clip, a key mounted in and retained by the clip and constructed and arranged to prevent contraction of the clip from the clip receiver, and two members extending inwardly from the rim and arranged in contiguous relation to opposite edges of the clip, to opposite sides of the clip receiver, to opposite ends of the key and to opposite sides of the hub, said members having formed therein shoulders constructed and arranged to engage the hub thereby to limit relative radial movement of the rim and the hub.

5. The combination with a rim and a hub of a resilient element connecting the rim and the hub, a clip formed in said element and extending outwardly therefrom, a clip receiver projecting inwardly from the rim and constructed and arranged to mount the outwardly extending clip, a key mounted in and retained by the clip and constructed and arranged to prevent contraction of the clip from the clip receiver, and two members extending inwardly from the rim and arranged in contiguous relation to opposite edges of the clip, to opposite sides of the clip receiver, to opposite sides of the hub, and to opposite ends of the key, said members forming side walls of a closed chamber in which the resilient element is mounted.

6. The combination with a rim and a hub of an endless resilient element connecting the rim and the hub, a first clip formed in said element and extending outwardly therefrom, a clip receiver constructed and arranged to mount the first clip, a second clip formed in said element and extending inwardly therefrom, a clip receiver projecting outwardly from the hub and constructed and arranged to mount the second clip, two plates extending inwardly from the rim, and two plates extending outwardly from the hub, said four plates forming with the peripheral surface of the hub and the hub-facing surface of the rim a closed chamber in which the resilient element is mounted.

7. The combination with a rim and a hub of an endless resilient element connecting the rim" and the hub, an inwardly extending clip formed in said element, an outwardly. extending clip formed in said element and offset circumferentially of the rim from the inwardly extending clip, a

clip receiver on the hub mounting the inward-- ly extending clip, a clip receiver on the rim mounting the outwardly extending clip, two arms extendin inwardly from the rim and arranged in contiguous relation to opposite edges of the outwardly extending clip, to opposite sides of the clip receiver on the rim and to opposite sides of the hub, and two arms extending outwardly from the hub and arranged in contiguous relation to opposite edges of the inwardly extending clip and to opposite sides of the clip receiver on the hub.

" HENRY KIRWIN.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

